Let's be honest, Paul was undoubtedly the best rival in the anime's history. He was everything Gary wasn't and more, he left some pretty big shoes to fill. Now we have Ash's new rival, Shooti. Although we don't know much about him right now, it's safe to say he will have a hard time being as great a rival as Paul was. I personally don't think he'll measure up, Paul was just too great and unique of a character for the writers to outdo this soon. Maybe in a future saga there will be a character able to take Paul's place as best rival, but I really don't see that title in Shooti's future.

Vernikova

September 20th, 2010, 05:25 PM

Paul was one-dimensional for a large chunk of Sinnoh but I agree. Hopefully new rival isn't a jerk since Drew and Paul are enough really. Still, the writers seem to improve every saga so we'll just have to see.

Spinor

September 20th, 2010, 05:28 PM

Although his personality doesn't compare to Paul, he does look like a total ass in the previews. I feel it probable that Shooti will compare to if not top Paul.

Guy

September 20th, 2010, 06:13 PM

Although his personality doesn't compare to Paul, he does look like a total ass in the previews. I feel it probable that Shooti will compare to if not top Paul.
That's the thing, I don't think a new rival has to compare with Paul as far as personality goes. The only part of Paul that really made the rivalry so great, is the story that was involved between Paul and Ash and the conflict in how they trained their Pokémon. Which in return, played our through Chimchar's development.

Shooti, I think has the potential to be just as great or even better than Paul, if the story between him and Ash is written well enough like it was for Paul and Ash. Other than that, I don't think there's anything making fans believe than Shooti can't be better. :\

The Red Chain

September 20th, 2010, 06:32 PM

I kind of hope Shooti doesn't become a softy in the end. All the rude rivals did.
Paul became a softy just before DP's anime ended. Same with Gary in regards to Kanto.

But yes, Shooti seems very snooty and proud. Guess that's why he chose Tsutaaja. ;D Maybe not as rude as Paul initially was, but the same annoyance as Paul was. He seems like a mix between Paul and Gary. Gary's proud and "I'm better than you" personality and Paul's "only strong Pokemon are worth it" personality. In that way, he's very similar to both of the rivals and is doing pretty well in their place so far.

The Red Chain

September 20th, 2010, 07:11 PM

How so? I didn't see a change in him at all.

He was actually happy for Ash winning, and smiled a lot, and it was just.. not Paul.
Paul would be like "Hmph -struts away-". XD

Sprinklers

September 21st, 2010, 12:01 AM

Shooti looks smug, but I don't think he's going to be as much of a jerk as Paul. I think he might be a different kind of rival, one that doesn't have the bitter conflict DP had but will still be interesting in his own way.

Guy

September 21st, 2010, 05:24 AM

He was actually happy for Ash winning, and smiled a lot, and it was just.. not Paul.
Paul would be like "Hmph -struts away-". XD

I wouldn't say Paul got soft at the end, but his point of view on Pokémon just changed. He always figured that only strong Pokémon are worth his time, while those who are weak from the start have no time for him - which is what he did to Chimchar after he realized Chimchar couldn't do what he wanted him to do since they first met.

After losing to Ash and Infernape, I think Paul realized at the end that looking for just strong Pokémon isn't good enough to be a better trainer. You have to bring it out of a Pokémon, even if they're weak at the start. So, his personality didn't change I'd say, but more so his respect for Ash and Pokémon.

Shooti looks smug, but I don't think he's going to be as much of a jerk as Paul. I think he might be a different kind of rival, one that doesn't have the bitter conflict DP had but will still be interesting in his own way.
I see Shooti being a mix like Gary and Paul as was mentioned before. It just seems like he's going to be very smug with Ash feeling he's better after beating him, and at the same time really only look for Pokémon who can benefit him and not really go out of his way to train other weaklings. ):

Neelh

September 21st, 2010, 10:26 AM

Smug... He has a Tsutaja/Smugleaf...

LOLRUS.

Anyways, he's gonna be more of a smug Gary.

Zet

September 21st, 2010, 01:03 PM

What are you talking about? Gary was the best rival. He was 10 years old and he had a car, how can you say Paul is better than Gary? Though Shooti doesn't seem all that smug since he takes pictures of pokemon.

mervyn797

September 21st, 2010, 09:42 PM

What are you talking about? Gary was the best rival. He was 10 years old and he had a car, how can you say Paul is better than Gary? Though Shooti doesn't seem all that smug since he takes pictures of pokemon.
Wait.. How does having a car make him a better rival? Gary seemed too arrogant to me and he isn't one of the best Pokemon trainers either. Paul actually proved to be a tough rival for Ash.
And I know very less about Shooti to comment on him. XD;

Mirai

September 26th, 2010, 11:33 AM

So far I liked Gary the most of all rivals and I liked his character development. As for Shooti he does seem to be a bit arrogant but not really a bad person.
But I do have a problem that he becomes Ashs rival, because he just started his journey and is a beginner. (I can't believe Ash lost to him in the first battle -.-") I'd like Shooti to become the sort of rival that loses to Ash often and gets stronger through him. I just can't accept the thought of Ash losing frequently to him.

Vernikova

September 26th, 2010, 12:40 PM

I'd like Shooti to become the sort of rival that loses to Ash often and gets stronger through him. I just can't accept the thought of Ash losing frequently to him.
I agree. Paul at least had some expirience before he became Ash's rival. I like the idea of Ash winning a lot against this new rival just to show that Ash has at least retained some skill from Sinnoh.

ManhattanTheStarr

September 26th, 2010, 12:58 PM

It seems like Ash will always be the one who loses against his rival. T_T

cyan.

September 26th, 2010, 01:05 PM

Shooti seems very identical to Paul, to me.

AceDragonite

September 26th, 2010, 02:19 PM

I think Shooti will be extremely competitive, but not as vicious as paul and not as cocky as Gary Oak

Vernikova

September 26th, 2010, 03:07 PM

It seems like Ash will always be the one who loses against his rival. T_T
I wish this rival was more experienced like Paul was so Ash losing wouldn't seem as stupid.

TheFuturePokemon

September 26th, 2010, 07:18 PM

I wish this rival was more experienced like Paul was so Ash losing wouldn't seem as stupid.

Yep, I agree with you about that.

Captain Hobo.

October 7th, 2010, 09:05 AM

I think Paul is a better rival for Ash.

Mew~

October 7th, 2010, 09:28 AM

They would snog
xD

They are kinda alike, but Paul has changed a little considering what Cynthia said!

Seriously though, I like Paul better, shooti just seems like a little mix of Gary and Paul it's not really anything creative or original! Plus we haven't seen what kinds of pokemon shooti will catch yet though so I guess we have to wait and see!

Guy

October 8th, 2010, 09:50 AM

As far as attitude goes, Paul was a lot more mature in character. Shooti is a beginning trainer who only won to Ash because Pikachu's electrical attacks were held back because of Zekrom - which he didn't even stick around long enough to know that. I wouldn't even say Gary was this bad from the start either. Shooti, I find a little annoying, because he is the type of person I couldn't stand in real life; one who thinks he is better than the rest even though he hasn't even had much experience.

Paul was at least experienced. While I didn't like his style of training, he had a right to say he was a strong trainer. Shooti on the other hand has much to learn.

... I just hope Ash doesn't lose to him next time. He needs to keep the skill he's obtained throughout his entire journey. I like the idea of Shooti growing more as a trainer through Ash; and by that, he loses to Ash more often than Ash loses to him. XD;

ShadowYashi

October 8th, 2010, 12:11 PM

Well, considering he's only been in one episode and we've seen only a glimpse of his character, I don't mind Shooti at all. I like his arrogance and hopefully he'll be that way for a while throughout the series.

I honestly hope Ash isn't the one to 'make him see the light' or whatever. I know he's the main character, but does he have to influence everybody he meets? I mean honestly, Shooti is traveling all around Isshu and meeting over people who aren't Ash and judging by the basic layout of personalities this show sticks with, that he can't just learn from one of them? On screen character development, sure, but couldn't he have like a flashback or something.

I mean there are probably tons of carbon copies of Ash's personality, minus the overbearing ways that seem to soely belong to Ketchum, because sometimes he just overdoes it with the rescuing, use some common sense kid, coulda saved yourself a whole lot less hurt if you just used that flying Pokemon you had in your team to go after TR Ashy boy :/

Porygon Z

October 8th, 2010, 02:20 PM

No way, Gary is the best.

PlatinumDude

October 8th, 2010, 03:43 PM

Even though I'm irritated at Paul's behavior towards at times, I prefer him over Shooti. Ash and Paul were polar opposites to each other till towards the end of D/P.

Owl

October 8th, 2010, 03:49 PM

I'll say Paul for now, since I don't really know the other guy :o

Wings Don't Cry

October 8th, 2010, 04:24 PM

Shooti seems like a total jerk, where does he get his attitude from to go around mocking Pallet Town. It's so stupid how one of the reasons he doesn't like Ash/Satoshi is because he came from Pallet Town, Kanto. I don't think he's anything like Paul, he just seems like some quickly thrown together character.

Vernikova

October 8th, 2010, 05:47 PM

Did he even recognize Pikachu when he first saw it? How can he mock where Ash came from if he doesn't know the Pokémon that are native there?

Wings Don't Cry

October 8th, 2010, 07:42 PM

Did he even recognize Pikachu when he first saw it? How can he mock where Ash came from if he doesn't know the Pokémon that are native there?

He knew Pikachu he thinks it's wrong that Pikachu is not in its native region.

mervyn797

October 8th, 2010, 10:17 PM

Even though I can't understand Japanese, it seemed to me as if Shooti was surprised to see a Pikachu in Isshu.

solarowl

October 8th, 2010, 10:40 PM

Paul was really good, I loved his attitude which made him more of a rival. On the other hand, Gary kept on insulting Ash and was always trying to be better than him. And now that even failed because Gary is nice to Ash more
in the Anime now. Paul makes it look so easy to beat Ash. He is Gary and more with more of an attitude toward pokemon. Shooti, so far, doesn't seem that bad, but Paul will always be my favorite. A rival who is good but needs to learn one lesson. As the anime reveals more and more gens, it has seemed the rivals get better. I guess we'll have to see how Shooti is.

Vernikova

October 9th, 2010, 03:56 AM

He knew Pikachu he thinks it's wrong that Pikachu is not in its native region.
So he's just an elitist? That seems like it will get old really quick since there aren't many things that are foreign in the new region.

JezzaRules

November 27th, 2010, 04:37 PM

I hate Shooti, he's practically a crappier version of Paul.

Spinor

November 27th, 2010, 08:03 PM

I take back what I last posted. Shooti is not even 1% of Paul >__>

The only thing that can save him in my eyes is some sort freaking awesome dub voice. Or plot. We needs moar plot with Shooti.

Kenshin5

November 27th, 2010, 08:28 PM

I really can't be much of a judge as to compare between the two since I have yet to watch most of the Sinnoh saga, but from what I have seen it seems as though Paul was more involved with the story then Shooti from early in the saga. That being said it seems a little early to making comparisons between the two since we haven't even got the second gym yet. From a battling stand point Shooti seems to be good as any of Ash rivals it Pururiru pretty much owned Ash team in the last episode.

Bluerang1

November 28th, 2010, 12:29 AM

Design-wise and so far personality, I prefer Shooti. He reminds me so much of Snivy <3 And Paul was too cold and gave Ash the time of day. From what I've seen, Shooti is smug, and at least smiles unlike Paul. But I liked Paul. I hope Shooti beats Ash in the League.

Ivysaur

November 28th, 2010, 01:39 AM

Jezzarules, this thread spent over a month without any posts. If you want to reply to the topic, please make a new one.